Drawer step



F. L. GAEDE DRAWER STEP I Dec. 2, 1-969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March}, 1968 'INVENTOR. FRANK L. 64505 jaw Dec. 2, 1969 Filed March 8, 1968 F. L. GAEDE DRAWER STEP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent US. Cl. 182-88 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A drawer step for use in kitchen cabinets and the like having a frame for mounting in a cabinet, with a step, a support structure and legs slidably and foldably storable within the frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 636,699, filed May 8, 1967, and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The field of the invention is generally cabinet structures, and more particularly cabinet structures with chair, seat or step.

Description of the prior art Several folding type ladders are known to the art. For example, the patents to Richards et al. 3,030,166 and to Horvath et al. 3,136,386 show a ladder and a step respectively that fold for storage upon cabinet doors. Stools and chairs with folding steps are well known, such as that shown in Knipper 2,592,912.

Another type of step for cabinets is shown in MacInnes 2,801,894, which is adapted to fold and slide into a cabinet beneath a shelf.

Each of the above mentioned prior art devices has disadvantages. For example, the steps and ladders which fold for storage upon cabinet doors take up space that could otherwise be used for general storage and because a portion of the weight loading on the ladder may be supported by the cabinet door, a generally heavier and more expensive door construction is required. The type of step which folds and slides into a cabinet beneath a shelf also takes up storage space that could be otherwise used and because some of the weight loading on it is supported by the shelf, requires a heavier shelf. Also, because it slides horizontally, it must be mounted for storage at the same height it will be when pulled out for use.

The need exists for a step that will enable persons easily to reach the upper shelves of kitchen cabinets and the like and will fold for storage in the cabinets without taking up space that could otherwise be used for general storage. Such a device should also be fully operable by a person without the use of his hands, so thathe may easily operate the device with his hands full and without bending over. The present invention provides such a device.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTION The present invention is an improved drawer step for use in kitchen cabinets and the like. It has a frame for mounting in a cabinet adjacent the floor in the area generally referred to as the kick space. This is the area between the bottom of the cabinets and the floor of the room where they are installed, and is generally a space that is outside of the cabinet proper and not available for storage.

Slidable within the frame are a step, legs hingedly afiixed to the step and a foldable support structure. In its folded and stored position, the top of the step is exposed within the kick space. A small tab on the step permits a person to hook the toe of his shoe behind the tab and draw the step, legs and support structure outwardly, in much the same manner as opening a drawer. With the step thus withdrawn, the person may then insert his toe between a leg and one side of the support structure and by lifting upwardly, unfold and erect the step for use.

The step may similarly be restowed without the use of hands by merely using a foot to fold the support structure and legs and to slide the step, legs and support structure back into the frame.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved drawer step for kitchen cabinets and the like.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a drawer step which may be mounted in kitchen cabinets and the like within the kick space and thereby not take up space otherwise available for general storage.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a drawer step which may be mounted in kitchen cabinets and the like and which may be withdrawn, erected, folded and restowed easily without the use of hands.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a drawer step which is easy to install, rugged in its parts, long lived and substantially maintenance free.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, reference being had to the attached drawings and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention in its erected position and in its relationship to a typical installation of kitchen cabinets.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional elevational view of the first embodiment of the drawer step of the present invention in its erected position.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional elevational view of the first embodiment of the drawer step of the present invention in its folded and stored position.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the drawer step of the present invention showing the relationship of its various parts.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention in its erected position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the second embodiment of the present invention in its folded position.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the second embodiment of the present invention partly in cross section.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross sectional view taken generally along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross sectional view taken generally along the line 9-9 of FIG. 7 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary section of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a typical arrangement of kitchen cabinets wherein upper cabinets 11 3. are mounted to a wall 12 above a counter top 13 which is supported by lower cabinets 14. The lower cabinets 14 may include both drawers 16 for holding tea towels, wash cloths, flat ware and the like, and doors 17 for enclosing shelved storage space for cooking utensils and the like.

Also shown in FIG. 1 is one embodiment of the drawer step 21 of the present invention in its erected position ready for use. It may be seen from FIG. 1 that the drawer step 21 provides a step on which a person may stand in order to reach the upper shelves of the upper cabinets 11.

So not to occupy valuable cabinet storage space, the drawer step 21 of the present invention is adapted to be mounted in the lower cabinets 14 within what is commonly referred to as the kick space, the space usually about 3 /2 inches to inches, left between the bottom of the lower cabinets 14 and the kitchen floor. The kick space is also generally recessed, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, so that a person may stand very near the edge of the counter top 13 with his toes extending into the kick space. Recessing the kick space also reduces the amount of scuffing that would otherwise occur to the vertical exposed surface 23 if it were flush with the front of the lower cabinets 14.

The drawer step 21 of the present invention includes a step 26, a pair of folding legs 27, a support structure 28 and a housing 29. The housing 29 mounts within the kick space of lower cabinets 14, extending into the space between the bottom of the cabinets and the kitchen floor. In a manner to be described in more detail subsequently, the support structure 28 is slidably mounted within the housing 29 and pivotally mounted to the step 26 and the folding legs 27 are pivotally mounted to the step 26 so that the support structure 28, the folding legs 27 and the step 26 may be foldably and slidably stored within the housing 29 when not in use.

It should be noted that the drawer step 21 of the present invention may be mounted substantially anywhere in the kick space along the lower cabinets 14, and is not restricted in its application to mounting beneath drawers as illustrated in FIG. 1. The only requirement is that the space beneath the cabinets 14 be available. For example, piping may prevent mounting beneath a sink, however, this generally would present no problem because upper cabinets 11 are seldom provided directly over a sink. In the event that it were desired to mount the drawer step of the present invention under a sink, the piping could be routed behind the frame 29 or through the wall 12, thereby freeing sufficient space under the sink for the housing 29.

The housing 29, as best shown in FIG. 4, has sides 31 and 32 and cross pieces 33 and 34. The sides 31 and 32,

which may be formed of sheet metal, have outwardly turned flanges 36 with holes 37 for receiving fasteners, such as wood screws, to fasten the housing 29 to the surface 23. The cross pieces 33 and 34, which may be formed of bar or channel stock, are rigidly affixed at their ends to the sides 31 and 32, near the upper margins of, and at substantially right angles to, the sides 31 and 32.

Each side 31 and 32 has an inturned tab 35, which may be formed from a separate piece of material affixed to the sides or may be formed, as shown in FIG. 4, by cutting and bending a portion of each side. The purpose of the tabs 35 will be described later.

Aflixed to the inner face of the side 31 is a guide 38 as shown in FIG. 4. There is also a similar guide 39 aflixed to the inner face of the side 32. The guides 38 and 39 may be formed of channel members and extend substantially from the front to the rear of the sides 31 and 32. The support structure 28 has a first frame portion 46 and a second frame portion 47 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The first frame portion 46 has two parallel slide members 48 and 49 which are rigidly aifixed to cross braces 51, and 52 at substantially right angles. Aflixed to the cross brace 52 are a pair of stop members 53 and 54,

each having an uptumed flange 56, the function of which will be described subsequently.

The second frame portion 47 has two parallel step support members 58 and 59 each of which are connected at one end to the slide members 48 and 49 respectively by hinges 61 and at the other end are pivotally connected to the step 26. The step support members 58 and 59 are rigidly connected together by a cross member 60. The hinges 61 are afiixed to the upper surfaces of the slide members 48 and 49 and to the upper surfaces of the step support members 58 and 59, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, so that the frame portion 47 cannot be rotated clockwise about the hinges 61 beyond the horizontal as viewed in FIG. 2.

The step 26, as viewed in FIG. 2, has a top portion 62 and depending front and rear skirt portions 63 and 64 respectively. The step 26 may also be provided with side skirt portions 66 as shown in FIG. 4. The outer surface of the top portion 62 may be covered with rubber or other suitable non-skid material for safety purposes. Also, the step 26 may be provided with a toe tab 67, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, permitting the drawer step 21 to be pulled out of its folded and stored position by a persons toe, thereby eliminating the need for the person to bend over and use his hands.

The folding legs 27 are substantially parallel to each other and are pivotally connected at one end to the step 26 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. A leg cross brace 68 is rigidly aflixed between the legs 27 to keep them parallel. Also, the legs 27 may be provided with caps 69, preferably of hard rubber, to protect the kitchen floor from possible damage and to prevent any slippage of the legs on the floor.

The slide member 48 and the step support member 58 are slidably received within the guide 38, and the slide member 49 and the step support member 59 are slidably received within the guide 39 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. When the step, support structure and folding legs are folded and stored, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the tabs 35 act as stops to prevent the parts from being pushed too far into the housing 29.

FIGS. 5 through 9 show a second embodiment of the drawer step of the present invention. In this embodiment there is a step 126 similar to the previously described step 26, a pair of folding legs 127, a support structure 128 and a housing 129. The housing 129 mounts within the kick space of lower cabinets 14.

The housing 129, as best shown in FIG. 5 may include a pair of guides 138 and 139, which may be formed of box channel stock, such as extruded aluminum. The housing 129 may further include, side members 140 and 141 V aflixed to the guides 138 and 139 as shown in FIGS. 5

and 6. The guides 138 and 139 may be held in spaced apart relationship by cross pieces 142 and 143 aflixed at each end to the guides 138 and 139. The side members 140 may be provided with outwardly turned flanges 144 and the cross piece 142 provided with an upwardly turned flange 145. The flanges 144 and 145 may be provided with suitable holes for receiving fasteners, such as wood screws, to fasten the frame 129 to the surface 23.

For convenience of manufacture, the side members 140, flanges 144, cross piece 142 and flange 145 may e formed from a single piece of sheet metal stock, such as aluminum. Similarly, the side members 141 and cross piece 143 may be integrally formed. The guides 138 and 139 may be aflixed to the side members 140 and 141 and cross pieces 142 and 143 in any suitable manner, such as by rivets The support structure 128 includes a first frame portion 146 and a second frame portion 147, as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. The first frame portion 146 has two parallel slide members 148 and 149 which are slidably received within the guides 138 and 139 respectively. Each slide member 148, 149 is sized to slide smoothly within its respective guide with a minimum of friction, and at the same time provide a firm sliding connection. Afiixed to the rear ends of the slide members 148 and 149 are stop members 153 and 154 respectively. The stop members 153 and 154 may be formed of angle pieces having upturned flanges 156 and 157 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The second frame portion 147 has two generally parallel step support members 158 and 159, each of which at a place removed from one end is pivotally connected to one of the slide members 148 and 149 respectively by hinge means, such as pins 161, and pivotally connected at the other end to the step 126. The step support members 158 and 159 may be formed of tubular stock, the outside diameter of which is slightly smaller than the inside width of the slide members 148, 149.

The step 126, as viewed in FIG. 5, has a top portion 162, and depending front and rear skirt portions 163 and 164 respectviely. The step 126 may also be provided with side skirt portions 166. There may be a toe tab 167, for permitting the drawer step 121 to be pulled out of its folded and stored position by a persons toe, thereby eliminating the need for the person to bend over and use his hands.

The pair of folding legs 127 may be formed in the shape of a U having two legs connected by a cross portion. The free end of each leg is pivotally connected to the step 126 as best shown in FIG. 7. No floor protecting device is needed with the U-shaped leg structure 127, however, it is desirable to provide the lower end of each step support member 158, 159 with a plug 169 or with a cap similar to the cap 69 to protect the kitchen floor from possible damage and to prevent slippage of the step support members on the floor.

The step support members 158 and 159 pivot about the pins 161 so that their lower portions including the plugs 169 fold upwardly within the slide members 148 and 149 respectively, and the slide members 148 and 149 are respectively received within the guides 138 and 139 as best shown in FIG. 8. When the step, support structure and pair of legs are folded and stored, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the rear skirt 164 and side skirts 166 of the step 126 encounter the front end of the guides 138 and139, which are set back from the flanges 144 and 145 a proper distance so that when the step is folded and stored, the top portion 162 of the step will be flush with the faces of the flanges 144 and 145.

As shown in FIG. 9, the side skirts 166 may be formed by one side of a channel member 171. In this manner a support point is provided on both sides of the step support member 159 for a pin 172, thereby making a stronger structure. The pair of legs 127 may be similarly coupled to the step 126.

From the folded and stored position the step, support structure and folding legs may be drawn out merely by hooking a toe under the toe tab and pulling outwardly until the stop members engage the frame. From this position, the step, support housing and legs may easily be moved to the erect position by inserting a toe between a step support member and a leg and giving an upward and outward swinging motion.

In the erected position the step is substantially rigid, the rigidity being provided by the legs bearing against the front skirt and the support members bearing against the rear skirt. I

To refold and store the drawer step of the present invention, one merely places the side of his foot against one of the legs and with one simple motion folds the legs under the step and lets the step and the second frame portion of the support structure fold down. The step, support structure and legs may then easily be pushed by foot into the stored position within the housing.

Referring to FIG. 10, an alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated which is identical to the embodiment of FIGS. 5-9 inclusive except that two pieces of spring steel 200 (one shown) are mounted on the drawer step is such a manner that one end 201 of each piece of spring steel extends into a respective opposite end of the U-shaped folding legs 127. The other end of each piece of spring steel extends into a respective support member 158 and 159. The function of the spring steel is to provide a resilient bias tending to move the structure to the legs spread position of FIG. 5. This bias makes the step safer and less apt to collapse because of incomplete set up and also assists in setting up of the step.

Referring to FIG. 11, an alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated which is identical to the embodiment of FIGS. 5-9, inclusive, with the exception that the fixed toe tab 167 is replaced by a slideable toe tab 300. The slideable toe tab 300 is identical to the toe tab 167 except for the fact that it is slideably mounted on the top portion 162 by a pair of screws or rivets 301 which extend through a slot 302 in the toe tab 300. Also the toe tab 300 has ridges 305 which project beyond the head of rivets 301 so that the tab 300 is pushed out to the projecting position of tab 167 in FIG. 6 (and dotted line position of FIG. 11) when the ridges 305 fn'ctionally engage cross piece 142. When the embodiment of FIG. 11 is in the position of FIG. 5, however, gravity causes the toe tab to drop to the solid line position of FIG. 11.

It will be seen from the above description that the present invention provides an improved drawer step for kitchen cabinets and the like; that it is adapted for mounting in the kick space, thereby not taking up valuable storage space; that it may be withdrawn, erected, used, folded and restored without the use of a persons hands; and that it is easy to install, rugged in its parts, long lived and substantially maintenance free. While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come Within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected. For example, the top of the step 26 may be scored rather than being coated With non-skid material to prevent slippage. Also instead of the upturned flanges 156, the slide members 148 and 149 might be crimped and a set screw in the guides 138 and 139 used as a stop. As a further alternative a small angle taper of perhaps 2 degrees or the like can be placed on the bottom edges of the side members 140 so that the step does not contact and wear the floor when it is moved in and out to and from the stow poistion.

The invention claimed is:

1. drawer step for use in kitchen cabinets and the like comprising:

a housing for mounting within the kick space of a cabinet;

a support structure having a first frame portion and a' second frame portion, said first frame portion being hingedly connected to said second frame portion, said first frame portion being slidably received within said housing;

' a step pivotally mounted to said second frame portion;

a pair of legs pivotally mounted to said step;

said support structure, said step and said legs being foldably and slidably storable within said housing.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein when said support structure, said step and said legs are foldably and slidably stored within said housing the outer surface of the top portion of said step is exposed within the kick space.

,3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes a pair of guides, said first frame portion being slidably received within said guides.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said housing includes side members and cross pieces, said guides being supported by said side members and being held in spaced apart relationship by said cross pieces.

5. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said housing includes first side members, second side members, a first cross piece and a second cross piece, said guides having a front end and a rear end, one of said first side members being afiixed to the front end of each of said guides, said first cross piece being afiixed at each end to each of said guides adjacent said first side members, one of said second side members being afiixed to the rear end of each of said guides, and said second cross piece being affixed at each end to each of said guides adjacent said second side members.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said first side members and said first cross piece are integrally formed, and wherein said second side members and said second cross piece are integrally formed.

7. The invention according to claim 5 further comprising a flange formed on each first side member and adapted to engage the vertical surface of said kick space.

8. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said first frame portion includes a pair of slide members, each of said slide members having a front end and a rear end and being slidably received Within one of said pair of guides.

9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein said second frame portion includes two step support members, each of the said step support members being pivotally connected at a place removed from one end to the front end of one of said slide members and being pivotally connected at the other end to said step.

10. The invention according to claim 9 wherein said step includes depending front and rear skirt portions and til wherein said pair of legs and said step support members are pivotally connected to said step so that when said support structure, said step and said legs are withdrawn from said housing and erected, said legs engage said front skirt poriton and said step support members engage said rear skirt portion.

11. The invention of claim 10 additionally comprising spring means extending into said legu and support members and yieldably holding said support members in engagement with said rear skirt portions and said legs in engagement with said front skirt portion. 12. The invention of claim 1 additionally comprising a slidable toe tab secured to said step for pulling said step out of said housing, said tab being arranged for frictional projection from said step by engagement with said housing, said tab being arranged for retraction by gravity.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,148,356 7/1915 Chickering 18288 2,209,576 7/1940 McDonald 18288 2,279,329 4/1942 King 182-88 2,801,894 8/1957 MacInnes 312-235 2,858,056 10/1958 Ownby 182-129 3,311,190 3/1967 Naumann l8288 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

